Like all New England states, towns rather than counties are the basic unit of local government in Connecticut. The state abolished almost all forms of county government by 1960, retaining only the county sheriff system, and this was eliminated in 2000 with the introduction of the state marshal system.

The state Constitution of Connecticut, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe. It says:

The People of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government; do, in order more effectually to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors; hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following constitution and form of civil government.

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History

Connecticut is known as The Constitution State since here is where the first written constitution was born. Connecticut's first constitution was called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. The Fundamental Orders are based on Christian principles. The state was founded by Thomas Hooker

Notable residents

Benedict Arnold, a traitor to the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, was born in Norwich.

State

Civil Unions and Gay Marriage

Starting in 2005, Connecticut offered civil unions with the same rights as same sex marriage.[3] In October 2008 the Connecticut high court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled that even if civil unions have all of the same rights as traditional marriage, that the state was constitutionally obligated to allow gay couples to marry. Connecticut was the third U.S. state to do so.[4] The people of Connecticut rejected an amendment to their constitution to remove gay marriage. For the three years that civil unions were in place for gay couples, on average 700 unions were requested per year.[5]